Hydraulic machine



March 9, 1937. V A DR 2,073,044

HYDRAULI C MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1936- 5 Sheets-Sheet l ITZTI Z 1 i l2 0 6 l5 '3 I 2: 1 24 I g I I9 2O l6 l x Q l8 :7 n

I: \22 23 2'1 27 v q INVENTOR ALBERT, w. ANDREWS 44 WALE- fiw ATTORNEY A. W. ANDREWS HYDRAULIC MACHINE Filed Sept. 26, 1956 73 l I v G: o .zjl i'izo o O I o o 6'7 J W36) l I/ /I J r INVENTOR ALBERT W. ANDREWS s sheets-sheet 2 justable blades.

Patented Mar. 9, 193'? UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE HYDRAULIC MACHINE ,7

Albert W. Andrews, Dover, Pa., assignor to S.

Morgan Smith Company, York, tion of Pennsylvania Pa., a corpora Application September 26, 1936, Serial No. 102,750 A 2 Claims.

This invention relates to hydraulic machines, such as hydraulic turbines, pumps and the like, and more particularly to the type of hydraulic machines having runners with movable or ad- The hub of the runner of the above type of hydraulic machine is filled with oil for lubricating the blade operating mechanism within the runner hub. During the operation of the hydraulic machine water collects in the bottom of the hub, and the present invention relates more particularly to means for removing the water from the bottom of the hub without unwatering the draft tube or without entering the draft tube and getting down below the runner.

An object of the invention is to provide improved means by which water in the bottom of the hub of an adjustable blade hydraulic turbine can easily and quickly be withdrawn upwardly through the main shaft of the turbine.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved means for dewatering the hubs of hydraulic machines of the character mentioned, which is simple in construction and reliable and exact in function under all conditions of service.

The invention also comprises certain new and useful improvements in the construction, arrangement and combination of the several parts of which it is composed, as will be hereinafter more fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings:-

Figure 1 is a view partly in section of an adjustable blade hydraulic turbine embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section of a portion of the turbine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section of the servo motor for operating the runner blade operating mechanism;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged section of a portion of the runner shaft showing the check valve employed for controlling the water discharge passage in the runner shaft, the check valve being shown in normal closed position;

Fig. 5 is a vertical section taken on the line 45 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 4, showing the manner of unseating the check valve when water is being withdrawn from the hub of the runner; and

Fig. 7 is a vertical section taken on the line l'| of Fig. 6.

Referring to the drawings, wherein the turbine is shown connected to an electric generator for the purpose of operating the same, the complete M generating unit may comprise a hydraulic turbine ll, an electrical generator l2, and a governor mechanism I3. I

As is well known in the art, the governor I3 is adapted to automatically control the operation of the turbine, so that the turbine will opeiate at a substantially uniform speed, irrespective of the variations of the load.

The turbine II has a runner which is made with adjustable blades, the angular positions of which are adapted to be variedaccording to the load, so that the turbine will operate at its high: est efficiency at all times;

In mechanisms falling within the scope of the present invention, the operating fluid is generally oil, means being provided for controlling the oil in such a manner that when the governor l3 operates to adjust the angles of the wicket gates of the turbine, the runner blades will be caused to rotate in a similar direction so as to efiect a I corresponding adjustment in the angles or positions of the runner blades. In this way the parts of the turbine will be simultaneously adjusted so that all of the parts will at all times retain their correct relationship with each other and the turbine will operate with maximum efiiciency and smoothness and with minimum vibration.

For the purpose of controlling the actuation of the runner blade operating mechanism, a control device l5 may be employed. Thiscontrol device may be operatively connected'with the governor I3 and function in the manner shown and described in McCormack Patent No. 1,937,772, granted December 5, 1933, for Hydraulic turbine.

The turbine l I may comprise a casing l6 which forms a peripheral water. inlet in which are mounted an annular series of wicket gates I 1 and guide vanes 18.

The wicket gates I! are rotatably mounted in the casing l6 and said gates are operatively connected to a gate adjusting ring I!) which is connected by link means 2|] to a shaft 2| of the governor mechanism l3, so that the wicket gates I! will be simultaneously rotated into different angular positions to control the flow of water into the turbine.

The lower portion of the turbine casing forms an axially directed chamber 22 in which the runner 23 operates. v

As shown in Fig. 2, the runner 23 has a hub which is connected to the lower end of a'hollow or tubular shaft 24. The runner shaft. extends upwardly through a main bearing 25 mounted in the casing IS. The upper end'of shaft 24 is connected to the sh'aftfifl of the' generator I2, as

shown'in Fig. 1',

A suitable number of blades 21 are rotatably supported in the hub of the runner 23 and project radially therefrom. 1

The inner end of each blade 21 is formed with a trunnion 28 which is journalled in bearings 29 and 30 supported in the hub of the runner 23.

Means are provided for simultaneously rotating all of the blades 21 and for maintaining them in equal angular relationship, such means comprising preferably a lever 3| rigidly fixed on the trunnion 28 of each blade and links 32 which connect the levers on the different blades to a cross head 33 fixed to the lower end of an operating rod 34 which extends upwardly through the hollow runner shaft 24.

The cross head 33 is formed with a central opening 35 for the reception of the lower end of the operating rod 34.

The opening 35 is formed with two diameters so as to provide a shoulder 36, and the lower portion of the operating rod 34 is also formed with two diameters so as to provide a shoulder 37 for engaging the shoulder 35.

Threaded onto the reduced lower portion of the operating rod 34 is a nut 38 which retains the cross head 33 firmly on the operating rod.

The cross head 33 is made of skeleton form, with outwardly projecting arms 39 to which the links 32 are connected, as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

The lower portion of the main body of the cross head 33 is formed with a downwardly projecting tubular extension 40, and this portion of the cross head surrounds a nut 38.

As shown in Fig. 2, the bottom of the hub of the runner has an opening 4| formed therein as has been customary in the construction of the runners of hydraulic turbines of the type herein described.

Mounted in the bottom portion of the hub of the runner and disposed a suitable distance above the opening 4|, is a member 42 which is semispherical in cross section to provide a sump for the bottom of the hub of the runner. In this sump collects any water which may seep into the hub of the runner past the joints between the runner blades and the hub.

The hub of the runner 23 is filled with lubricating oil and in order that this oil can be drained from the hub, an opening 43 is formed in the lowermost portion of the sump as shown in Fig. 2, said opening being normally closed by means of a threaded rod 44 which extends downwardly to the bottom of the hub of the runner and has a head for the reception of a wrench or other tool.

Acylindrical portion 45 is formed centrally in the member 42. This cylinder is open at the top and the tubular extension of the cross head 33 is disposed within the cylinder.

An opening 46 is formed between the cylinder and the bottom portion of the sump 42 through which the oil in the hub of the runner can readily flow into the sump.

As shown in Fig. 3, the upper end of the operating rod 34 is fixed to the piston 48 of a servo motor 49 which is mounted in the runner shaft 24 adjacent to the point where the runner shaft is joined to the shaft of the generator l2.

The servo motor piston 48 may be contained in a cylinder which may be formed as an enlargement of the runner shaft 24, theupper portion. of said cylinder being closed by the lower portion 50 of the generator shaft.

The upper portion of the operating rod 34 passes through a bushing 5|, mounted in the runner shaft 24, and this bushing besides forming a bear ing for the operating rod 34, provides means for closing the chamber 52 on the lower side of the piston 48.

The servo motor piston 48 is double acting, and in order to supply oil to both sides thereof for the purpose of operatingthe same in both directions, two tubes or pipes 53 and 54 are employed. The pipes 53 and 54 are mounted within the hollow generator shaft and rotate therewith, said pipes extending from the servo motor upwardly through the generator l2 to a head 55 which is mounted on top of the generator l2, as shown in Fig. 1. The lower end of pipe 54 is in communication with chamber 52 on the lower side of the servo motor piston 48, and the lower end of pipe 53 is in communication with chamber 56 on the upper side of piston 48, as shown in Fig. 3.

The lower end of pipe 54 is fixed to a cap 57 carried by the piston 48, and chamber 58 within the cap is connected to piston chamber 52 by means of a passage or port 59 formed in the piston 48, so that oil supplied to pipe 54 will flow into chamber 52.

The lower end of pipe 53 terminates above the cap 51, so as to be in communication with chamber 56 of the servo motor. The lower end of pipe 53 may be secured to the lower end of the generator shaft by means of a member 68 having a peripheral flange which is bolted or otherwise secured to the adjacent portion of the generator shaft. The member 60 provides means for closing the lower end of the hollow generator shaft and thereby cut off communication from the chamber 56 to the space within said generator shaft exteriorly of the pipes 53 and 54.

Pipes 53 and 54 are connected to the control valve device I 5 of the governor mechanism l3 through pipes BI and 62, respectively. As fully explained in Patent No. 1,937,772 above referred to, through the action of the governor in accordance with variations in load, oil will be supplied not possess sufiicient lubricating properties for' satisfactorily lubricating the blade operating mechanism within the runner hub.

Rod 34 fits snugly within the bushing 5| and the latter functions to close the upper end of the hollow runner shaft 24 and thus prevent oil in chamber 52 from entering the hollow runner shaft 24 in appreciable quantities. The heavy lubricating oil for the hub of-the runner 23- is supplied to the interior of the hub through a port or passage 63 in the runner shaft 24. This port or passage 63 may be located at any convenient place in the runner shaft 24 between the top of the runner and the bottom of the servo motor 49. In the present instance port 63Iis.showndis-' posed slightly above theuppe'r portion of theturbine casing l6. Any suitable means may be employed for supplying lubricating oilthroughwthe port or passage 63.

During operation of a hydraulic" turbine of the above described type, water seeps into the hub 23 through the joints where the. runner blade trunnions enter the hub. This watercollects in the sump 42, and it is necessary'that the water be removed before the water level. rises to a point.

where the water will mix with the lubricating oil and injure the blade operating mechanism.

Accordingly, by the present invention I have provided means for withdrawing the water from the hub of the runner, and such means comprises a pipe or tube which is disposed within the hub of the runner and extends downwardly into the sump 42.

The upper end of the pipe or tube 65 is connected to an opening 66 formed in the upper part of the hub of the runner 23. Opening 66 registers with another opening or passage 61 formed in the runner shaft 24.

Passage 6'! extends upwardly in the runner shaft 24 to a suitable point above the bearing 25, said passage terminating at a chamber 68, as shown clearly in Fig. 4.

Chamber 68 is disposed within the runner shaft 24 in spaced relation to the outside of said shaft, being in communication with the outside of the shaft through a laterally formed threaded opening 69.

Mounted within the threaded opening 69 is a threaded sleeve or tubular nipple lll having an internally threaded portion II, the purpose of which will be hereinafter more fully described.

In order to normally close the upper end of passage 61, chamber 68 has a spring pressed ball check valve 12 mounted therein. The check valve is adapted to normally seat against the inner end of the nipple 10, as shown in Fig. 4.

Mounted in the turbine casing I6 is a sump tank 13. Also mounted on the casing l6 and surrounding the runner shaft 24 is a pan 14. At a point adjacent to the pan [4 the runner shaft 24 is formed with an opening 15 to which is fitted a short pipe 16 which terminates within the pan l4. Surplus lubricating oil within the runner hub will flow upwardly of the shaft 24 and be discharged into the pan 14 through passage 15 and pipe 16. Pan 14 is connected to sump tank 13 by a pipe 11 so that the oil thus delivered to the pan 14 will flow into the sump tank 13.

Operatively connected to sump tank 13 is an electric motor 18 which drives a pump 82 within the sump tank. Leading from the bottom of the sump tank 13 is a flexible pipe 19, the outer end of which is provided with a threaded portion adapted to be connected to the internally threaded portion ll of the nipple 10 when it is desired to withdraw water from the bottom of the hub of the runner.

The threaded portion 8|] of the flexible pipe 19 is formed with a flat pointed extension 8| adapted to extend inwardly of the nipple when the pipe 19 is connected to the runner shaft 24 and unseat the ball check valve 12.

With the ball check valve thus unseated, communication will be established from the sump 42 in the bottom of the hub of the runner to the tank I3, so that operation of the pump 82 by the motor 18 will draw water upwardly into the sump tank 13. After the water has thus been removed from .the bottom of the runner hub the pipe 19 can be disconnected from the nipple l0, and the ball check valve 12 will automatically close the communication between chamber 68 and the exterior of the shaft 24.

From the foregoing it will be noted that by the present invention it is only necessary to shut down the turbine and connect the pipe 19 to the shaft 24 in order to dewater the runner hub. Heretofore, in order to remove the water from the hub it was necessary to unwater the draft tube and enter the draft tube below the runner in order to remove the plug provided by the threaded rod 44. By this invention the time required in order to drain water from the hub is considerably expedited, since this work can be conveniently! performed more frequently than by the prior methods and by merely shutting down the turbine for a short period of time.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:-

1. In a hydraulic machine a runner having a hollow hub with a sump in the bottom thereof, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted in said hub, mechanism within the hub for rotating said blades, a shaft connected to the hub, said hub containing oil for lubricating the blade operating mechanism within the hub, a drain passage formed in said shaft and hub and terminating at one end in the sump and at the other end at a point in said shaft above said runner, and means adapted to be connected with said drain passage when the machine is inactive for withdrawing fluid in the bottom of the hub upwardly through said shaft.

2. In a hydraulic machine, a runner having a hollow hub, a plurality of blades rotatably mounted in said hub, mechanism within the hub for rotating said blades, a shaft connected to the hub and extending upwardly therefrom, said hub containing oil for lubricating the blade operating mechanism, a drain passage formed in said shaft and hub and terminating at one end in the bottom of the hub and at the other end at a point in said shaft above the runner, a chamber formed in said passage adjacent the upper portion of the passage, a port between said chamber and the exterior of said shaft, a check valve controlling communioation through said port and normally maintaining said port closed, and means adapted to be connected with said port for withdrawing fluid in the bottom of the hub upwardly through said drain passage, said means automatically opening said check valve when connected with said port.

ALBERT W. ANDREWS. 

